The Chinese government said Sunday it will make an "urgent" announcement later in the day amid rising military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported in a dispatch.

China's foreign ministry said it will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m. for both domestic and foreign reporters based in Beijing, adding that it will not accept any questions during the conference.

The ministry didn't provide details about the announcement, but it is expected to cover developments surrounding North Korea's recent attack on South Korea.

North Korea on Tuesday fired a barrage of artillery rounds toward Yeonpyeong Island near the tense Yellow Sea border, killing two South Korean marines and as many civilians and leaving 18 others wounded.

The attack drew international condemnation and angered South Koreans, who came under the communist neighbor's first attack targeting civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War.